Saturday, 27 July, 2024 
Saturday, 27 July, 2024 
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh said he has the greatest regard for the armed forces, a day after stoking controversy with his remarks on the 2016 surgical strike.
Singh was walking alongside party MP Jairam Ramesh in the Bharat Jodo Yatra when he was asked about his comment on the surgical strike. “I have got the greatest regards for the defence forces,” Singh said.
Ramesh, when asked about his colleague’s statement, stopped journalists and said that the party has already spoken on the matter. “We have answered all the questions. You go and ask the prime minister,” Ramesh said.
Digvijaya Singh stirred a controversy as he questioned the surgical strike on neighbouring Pakistan following the deadly terror attack on the Indian Army headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri that killed 19 soldiers. “They (the Centre) claimed a surgical strike was carried out but didn't show proof. They only spread lies,” he had said.
The Congress, however, distanced itself from Singh's remark and said his views “are his own”.
“The views expressed by senior leader Digvijaya Singh are his own and do not reflect the position of the Congress. Surgical strikes were carried out before 2014 by the UPA government. The Congress has supported and will continue to support all military actions that are in the national interest,” Jairam Ramesh said.